Plant Manager

Job Overview:

Search Solution Group is seeking a Plant Manager on behalf of our client, a Food & Beverage company. The Plant Manager will provide overall leadership for day-to-day plant operations, ensuring the facility achieves its safety, food safety, quality, service, productivity, reliability, and financial objectives. This role will oversee multiple plant functions, develop a high-performing leadership team, drive continuous improvement, and ensure compliance with regulatory and customer requirements. The ideal candidate is a strong operational leader with extensive manufacturing experience and a proven ability to build accountable teams and deliver measurable improvements in a highly regulated production environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead day-to-day plant operations to achieve safety, food safety, quality, service, productivity, reliability, and financial objectives.

Build and sustain a culture where employee safety, food safety, quality ownership, accountability, and operational discipline are non-negotiable expectations.

Ensure compliance with FDA regulations, GMPs, HACCP and preventive controls, customer standards, company policies, and third-party audit requirements.

Maintain strong control of hot-fill and aseptic manufacturing processes, including thermal processing, CIP/SIP systems, sanitation, environmental monitoring, hygienic zoning, and package integrity.

Partner closely with Quality and Food Safety leadership to maintain audit readiness, prevent contamination, manage deviations, conduct root-cause analysis, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.

Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on OEE, throughput, yield, schedule attainment, labor productivity, conversion costs, material usage, and equipment reliability.

Lead Maintenance and Engineering priorities to improve equipment uptime, reduce unplanned downtime, strengthen preventive maintenance programs, and improve long-term asset reliability.

Develop, justify, and execute capital projects designed to improve safety, capacity, reliability, quality, productivity, and cost performance.

Manage the plant operating budget and monitor financial performance while delivering sustainable cost and productivity improvements.

Develop plant leaders and employees through coaching, performance management, training, succession planning, and accountability systems.

Sustain Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies throughout the facility.

Serve as the senior site leader during customer visits, regulatory inspections, internal reviews, and third-party certification audits.

Establish plant goals and objectives aligned with overall business strategies and operational priorities.

Routinely review plant performance with the management team and implement corrective actions to achieve targeted results.

Ensure staffing and resources are aligned with operational requirements and business needs.

Communicate plant goals, objectives, performance, and results effectively across all levels of the organization.

Empower employees to identify and address safety, food safety, and quality concerns within their areas of responsibility.

Develop succession plans and leadership capabilities to support long-term organizational growth.

Key Performance Measures:

Employee safety performance and safety culture maturity.

Food safety, quality performance, and regulatory compliance.

SQF, GFSI, customer audit, and inspection readiness.

OEE, throughput, downtime, and production efficiency.

Schedule attainment, order fulfillment, and customer service performance.

Equipment reliability, preventive maintenance effectiveness, and downtime reduction.

Yield, waste, rework, and material usage.

Labor productivity, conversion costs, and budget performance.

Employee engagement, retention, training, and leadership development.

Continuous improvement savings, project execution, and operational discipline.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Provide leadership and oversight for Production, Quality and Food Safety, Maintenance, Sanitation, Warehouse, Continuous Improvement, and related plant functions.

Communicate job expectations and establish clear performance goals for direct reports.

Plan, monitor, and evaluate employee performance while providing ongoing coaching and development.

Motivate and develop plant leaders to create an engaged, accountable, and high-performing workforce.

Resolve employee and operational conflicts effectively and professionally.

Establish goals and objectives aligned with business strategies and operational priorities.

Review plant performance regularly with the management team and implement actions to achieve targeted results.

Lead initiatives focused on operational excellence, cost reduction, and process reliability.

Ensure appropriate staffing and resources are available to meet production requirements.

Develop leadership capabilities and succession plans to support future organizational needs.

Requirements Include:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Food Science, Business, or a related field required.

Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Experience:

10+ years of progressive manufacturing experience, including significant leadership responsibility within a plant or operations environment.

Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional manufacturing teams, including Production, Quality, Food Safety, Maintenance, Engineering, Sanitation, Warehouse, and Continuous Improvement.

Experience managing plant operating budgets, labor utilization, production performance, cost reduction initiatives, and capital projects.

Proven experience with data-driven decision-making, root-cause analysis, corrective action systems, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Experience working in a highly regulated manufacturing environment preferred.

Experience with aseptic, hot-fill, low-acid beverage, dairy, food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or similar manufacturing environments preferred.

Experience leading facility expansions, production line start-ups, major equipment installations, automation improvements, or capital-intensive reliability projects preferred.

Skills:

Strong plant and operations leadership capabilities.

Excellent leadership, coaching, and employee development skills.

Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and operational excellence.

Ability to manage budgets, costs, labor utilization, productivity, and capital projects.

Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis capabilities.

Data-driven approach to decision-making and performance management.

Strong organizational and project management skills.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to establish accountability and drive results across multiple departments.

Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Strong conflict resolution and decision-making abilities.

Ability to effectively communicate with employees at all levels of an organization.

Certifications:

Lean Manufacturing certification preferred.

TPM certification or experience preferred.

Six Sigma certification preferred.

OSHA certification or safety-related credentials preferred.

Food safety certifications are a plus.

Other relevant operations or manufacturing leadership certifications are beneficial.

Knowledge:

GMPs, HACCP, and preventive controls.

FDA regulations and food manufacturing requirements.

Sanitation programs and high-hygiene manufacturing environments.

Thermal processing, CIP/SIP systems, aseptic filling, and package integrity programs preferred.

Environmental monitoring, allergen control, and sanitation validation preferred.

SQF, BRC, FSSC 22000, GFSI, customer audits, and FDA inspections preferred.

Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Equipment reliability and preventive maintenance programs.

Manufacturing financial management, budgeting, and cost control.

Capital planning and project execution.

Workplace safety and OSHA requirements.

Quality management and corrective and preventive action processes.

Key Competencies:

Strategic Leadership: Translates business objectives into clear plant strategies and measurable operational goals.

Operational Excellence: Drives efficiency, reliability, productivity, quality, and cost improvements.

People Leadership: Builds, develops, and holds high-performing teams accountable.

Food Safety & Quality Mindset: Maintains uncompromising standards for food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.

Continuous Improvement: Uses Lean, TPM, Six Sigma, and data-driven methodologies to improve processes and performance.

Financial Acumen: Understands plant financial performance and effectively manages budgets, costs, and capital investments.

Decision-Making: Makes timely, informed decisions using data, analysis, and sound business judgment.

Problem Solving: Identifies root causes and implements sustainable corrective and preventative solutions.

Communication: Clearly communicates expectations, priorities, performance, and results across all levels of the organization.

Accountability: Establishes clear expectations and consistently follows through on performance.

Change Management: Successfully leads teams through operational, process, technology, and organizational change.

Collaboration: Partners effectively across Production, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and other functions.

Adaptability: Responds effectively to changing production requirements, customer needs, and business priorities.

Results Orientation: Maintains a strong focus on measurable improvements and achievement of operational objectives.

How to Apply:

To apply for this position, please click the "Apply" button at the top right of your screen. Alternatively, you can email your application to info@ssgresume.com . Please ensure to include your resume and any other relevant documents or information that showcase your qualifications and suitability for the role. We appreciate your interest in joining our team and look forward to reviewing your application.

Company Overview:

Company Industry: Food & Beverage

Location: Hendersonville, NC

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Search Solution Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued and respected. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status in our hiring process or employment practices. We believe that a diverse workforce brings unique perspectives and strengths, driving innovation and growth. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and contribute to our team.

Disclaimer:

Please note that the job description provided is not exhaustive and is subject to change. Additional duties may be assigned as needed to meet the evolving needs of the organization and to ensure the successful completion of projects and objectives.